Sixteen-year-old Zoe Johnson pirouetted her way through auditions to secure a spot at the London Studio Centre, where she will study classical ballet.

The Graham School student, who has danced since the age of three, said she was "excited about the opportunity" but would be "sad to leave her friends" who are staying at school to study A-levels.

She said: "Ever since I can remember I have wanted to do ballet. Now I have won a place at the academy I am a step closer to my ambition of being a professional dancer.

"I had to go to London to audition for a place. It was a little nerve-racking but once I got in there I was fine.

"Thousands of girls auditioned, so when I found out I got in I was over the moon."

Zoe, who is inspired by ballerinas Margaret Porter and Darcy Bussell, has a busy schedule keeping herself on top form.

She dances once a week at the Louise Brown Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship in York, and is at the Yorkshire Coast School of Ballet in Scarborough almost every night.

However the determined dancer said: "It doesn't feel like hard work because I enjoy it so much, and it has all been worth it now."